Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-08-20
SUGAR BEET GROWING.
EXPERIMENTAL PLANTING IN THE
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY.
of Beets Grown at Fresno
Can They be Raised Away
from Bottom Lands.

In a report just published by Professor
L. W. Hilgard, of the State Agricultural
Experimental Station, the following ac-
count of sugar beet growing on the plains
of the San Joaquin valley is given;
The culture of the sugar beet in the San
Joaquin valley has until lately remained a
bare suggestion. 1t is well known that
they have been successfully grown near
Isleton and Sacramento, on the moist
lands of the Sacramento river, on which
irrigation is unnecessary 1t is doubtful
that the sugar beet has ever been cultiva-
ted where irrigation is indispensable, and
this fact, as well as the high summer tenn
perature of the southern valley, has dis
couraged the attempt. In fact, the very
idea of a root filled full of irrigation
water, and then wilted by the torrid heat
is enough to excite the antipathy of the
manufacturer.
The success of the sugar beet in Loe
Angeles, however, encouraged the hope
that with a proper selection of soil and o.
the time of planting and irrigation, root
suitable for the sugar-maker might be
produced in the San Joaquin valley; and
if so, that the crop might be made to sup
plement that of the coast valleys so as Il
prolong materially the annual campaign
the shortness of which is heavy charge
on the capital invested in the somewhat
costly plant of beet-sugar factories. A,
stated in paper on the subject, published
i'll the December number of the Orerlanc
Monthly the campaign period in Europe
usually does not much exceed three
months-October, November, December
while IN California, owing to the favoring
climatic conditions, there is no difficulty
in lengthening it to the FIVE months from
September to January, both inclusive Il
by early sowing in the precocious season
of the upper San Joaquin two or three
months could be added to the time of cam
paign, it would place beet sugar production
in this State on a ground of vantage from
which it might calmly defy the competi-
ton of its tropical competitor, the sugar.
cane.
Preliminary experiments to test the
feasibility of growing good sugar beets UNI
der the condition of the Fresno climate
have, during the present season, been made
by M. Denicke of Fresno. Mr., Denicke
obtained last autumn from Mr. Dyer, OF
Alvarado, some reliable sugar-beet seed,
and sowed it at intervals from December to
April. The results of the examination OF
three lots, planted and harvested as stated
below, were as follows
Lot No. 1.-Seed sown in December,
harvested May 9th. The lot consisted of
four roots, two of which Ca showed just an
indication of new growth starting in the
center, while in the two others OBJ short
seed-stalk was already formed, so that
they had evidently passed the proper stage
for sugar-making
Lot No. 1.-Two beets from seed planted
early in April, by L. j. McCleary, on
sandy, ashy soil on Kings river, six miles
east from Selma. Harvested June Goth.
Little or no indication of new growth
starting.
Lot No. 3.-Two roots. Seed sown about
March 10Th, on "white-ash" soil. Har-
vested June 29th. Somewhat fresh look
ing in the center but no serious show
of new growth.
Lot No. 4.-Date of sowing not stated.
Roots in good apparent condition. Har-
vested August 4th. The assays resulted
rs follows: -